WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.160 Well, when your pastor takes vacation, it's a good thing for a couple of reasons. 00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:07.580 Number one, he gets to rest. 00:00:08.199 --> 00:00:12.720 And number two, we get to hear from other preachers in the area. 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:19.620 And we are very blessed this morning to have Brian Counts, if you want to come on up, Brian, from Village 7. 00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:22.019 Brian is the associate pastor there. 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:26.260 And we're just very fortunate to have him with us. 00:00:26.260 --> 00:00:27.900 So thank you, brother. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.100 All right. 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:34.700 Good morning. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:37.119 It is good to be back. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:41.500 I've been here a number of times over the years and been able to worship with you all. 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:46.159 And so it's good to see a lot of familiar faces and old friends and some new ones, too. 00:00:46.480 --> 00:00:51.379 So if you would please turn with me this morning to Colossians 1. 00:00:51.380 --> 00:00:59.040 In a moment, we'll read verses 1 through 9 of Colossians 1. 00:00:59.540 --> 00:01:01.540 Did I say 1 through 9? 00:01:01.940 --> 00:01:03.080 I meant 9 through 14. 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:05.400 I'll get there. 00:01:06.980 --> 00:01:07.780 I've had coffee. 00:01:07.859 --> 00:01:08.659 I'll wake up in a moment. 00:01:09.420 --> 00:01:09.800 All right. 00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:13.899 So one of the good things about being a guest preacher is I get to preach whatever I want to. 00:01:15.019 --> 00:01:16.539 I asked Matthew, what do you want me to preach? 00:01:16.579 --> 00:01:18.280 And he said, whatever you like. 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:20.979 And I said, well, okay, that is great. 00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:26.479 But it's also a little hard in another way because it takes time to think, what am I going to preach on? 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:30.579 Instead of just saying I'll take the next passage in the book you're going through. 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:34.700 And I thought, well, I know your church a little bit more than other churches. 00:01:34.700 --> 00:01:51.900 But whether it's this church, my church, or any church, I know that people sitting here in any congregation and here this morning are going to be struggling with friends, loved ones that they know who are hurting in any number of ways. 00:01:51.900 --> 00:02:05.180 And if I ask this morning, who here has a friend, has a family member, has a fellow church member, a fellow Christian, a child, a spouse who is going through some trial in their life? 00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:06.900 All of us could raise their hand. 00:02:07.460 --> 00:02:17.159 Some trial that comes from the outside, from the circumstances of life, or some trial that comes from the inside through their own sinful choices and decisions. 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:22.680 People struggling with finances, with career, with sin, with addiction, with conflict. 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:29.379 Already, I imagine you're thinking of people as I am thinking of my friends and loved ones and fellow church members. 00:02:29.519 --> 00:02:46.199 So as we read this passage this morning, I want you to be thinking, what does Paul here, who wrote these words, what does Paul have for me as I think about how to help these friends, loved ones, church members in my life that are struggling? 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:48.699 So let's read together from God's word. 00:02:48.780 --> 00:02:53.619 This is the book of Colossians chapter 1, verses 9 through 14. 00:02:54.519 --> 00:03:05.120 And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:15.280 So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:24.000 Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:31.700 Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 00:03:31.699 --> 00:03:42.419 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:43.280 Amen. 00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:44.739 This is God's word. 00:03:44.839 --> 00:03:46.000 Would you pray with me as we start? 00:03:47.339 --> 00:03:51.000 Father, we are here this morning to come into your presence. 00:03:51.679 --> 00:03:59.919 And we are here to come into your presence only by the grace of you, the work of your Son, Jesus, the power of your Holy Spirit. 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:06.319 Father, as we have worshiped so far this morning, we now want to continue to worship you as we meditate together on your word. 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:12.959 And Father, this is an exciting moment because we know you love your word and we know you love your people. 00:04:13.539 --> 00:04:22.159 So as these two things come together, your word and your people, we pray that you would be glorified, that you would bless us for our good, and that your spirit would work in great ways. 00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:23.519 And we pray in Jesus' name. 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:24.539 Amen. 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:24.700 Amen. 00:04:25.900 --> 00:04:32.160 Now, if you had your dear friends or family members, church members who were struggling in mind as we read that, how can we be of help to them? 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:35.500 Clearly, the answer is we can pray. 00:04:36.260 --> 00:04:37.439 We can pray for them. 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:39.540 Now, that's not church 404. 00:04:40.200 --> 00:04:41.520 That's church 101. 00:04:41.960 --> 00:04:42.980 You know that already. 00:04:43.100 --> 00:04:45.700 I know to pray for those that I love. 00:04:45.699 --> 00:04:56.979 And it's inspiring, in a sense, because it's so simple, but it's also so powerful, because what's the first thing that Paul does when he hears about these Christians that he's writing to? 00:04:57.399 --> 00:05:06.339 The first thing he did, despite all his knowledge, experience, spiritual gifts, his apostle-ness, the first thing he does is pray. 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:09.620 It's so simple, and that's what he does. 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:12.800 And we think, yes, I love these folks who are struggling. 00:05:13.180 --> 00:05:18.660 I want to be of help, so I want to pray, but we don't so often. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:23.600 Sometimes we do, but none of us pray, myself included, like we want to pray. 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:27.220 I've never met a Christian that said, yeah, my prayer life, it's actually better than it should be. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.120 I think that's kind of the part of my Christian life I can check off. 00:05:32.579 --> 00:05:33.939 I'm yet to meet that Christian. 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:40.939 If that's you after the church, don't say that to me, because there's something else probably going on with pride or something in your heart. 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:44.779 But all of us want to improve and do better. 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:53.240 And sometimes we catch ourselves, we're talking to that friend or loved one or church member who's struggling, and we say, oh, our heart is breaking for you. 00:05:53.339 --> 00:05:56.659 I will pray, but is there anything I can do? 00:05:57.980 --> 00:05:58.839 Have you ever said that? 00:05:59.379 --> 00:06:03.180 And then you think, that didn't come out right, right? 00:06:03.180 --> 00:06:05.860 But, is there anything I can do? 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:10.720 I'm going to pray, but it's almost like we're apologizing that that's all we can do. 00:06:11.259 --> 00:06:14.560 It's almost like we want to say, I'm sorry that prayer's all I've got. 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:17.800 And at best it says, we just want to be of more help. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:21.439 And at worst it says, I don't think prayer's going to really help. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:24.620 And if I could do something tangible, that would help. 00:06:24.980 --> 00:06:27.639 But prayer, eh, not so much. 00:06:28.180 --> 00:06:29.939 And all of us are there sometimes, aren't we? 00:06:29.939 --> 00:06:33.439 Some of us are convinced at times that prayer is working. 00:06:33.620 --> 00:06:35.579 All of us are doubting at some point. 00:06:35.660 --> 00:06:38.639 Is prayer really doing any help at all? 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:45.779 But Paul here gives us some words that are so helpful because they give us a model of what to pray. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:48.240 Because sometimes we are praying for those. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:53.060 We know it's going to be helpful, and we are praying, but we're just kind of, are you like this sometimes like me? 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:56.980 You're just wandering around in prayer, not sure what to say or to ask for. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:05.439 And so you use just some general prayer terms like, Lord, please bless, and please help, and please work. 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:11.240 And those are great things to pray, but we're just kind of, like I said, wandering around, not sure the words. 00:07:11.340 --> 00:07:14.340 But Paul here with these words gives us a great model. 00:07:14.339 --> 00:07:23.739 And I encourage you sometimes to pray these word for word for someone or to use it as a jumping off place to shape your own prayers. 00:07:23.859 --> 00:07:30.259 And he gives us a motivation to pray because, like we said, he prays for all of his gifting and experience. 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:32.459 It's the first thing he does. 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:33.620 So he gives us motivation. 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:39.039 And you'll see as we go through these words, you'll see that what he's doing is he's saying, 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:45.939 God, you've begun a work of grace in these people's lives, and now I want you to further it. 00:07:46.580 --> 00:07:50.200 I can have trust you're going to further it because you've already started it. 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:55.540 And the kind of work that you've started is the kind of work you're going to keep doing. 00:07:55.740 --> 00:07:59.800 We're going to keep going further in God's gospel and in his truth. 00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:02.200 So that's what we're going to be seeing this morning. 00:08:02.320 --> 00:08:04.660 We're really going to only have two points as we look at it. 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:07.580 The first one is going to be when to pray for others. 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:10.740 And secondly, what to pray for others. 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:11.620 It's just that simple. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:12.979 When do we pray for others? 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:17.199 And secondly, what do we pray for others as we pray? 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:19.419 So first, when to pray for others. 00:08:19.479 --> 00:08:23.939 And you don't have to be a New Testament or Greek scholar to look with me at verse 9 and say, 00:08:24.039 --> 00:08:24.779 when should I pray? 00:08:25.419 --> 00:08:26.419 All the time. 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:27.860 How does Paul pray? 00:08:27.919 --> 00:08:28.459 What does he say? 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:28.979 Look with me. 00:08:29.039 --> 00:08:29.479 Verse 9. 00:08:30.659 --> 00:08:31.060 Unceasingly. 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:33.100 Unceasingly. 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:38.440 Ever since he's heard of these folks, he's been praying for them unceasingly. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:45.279 Now, I don't think that means that's all he's thought about 24-7 is his prayers for these 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:45.740 Christians. 00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:46.840 It can't be true. 00:08:47.139 --> 00:08:48.800 He has to have lived his life. 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:52.159 He has to have ministered to the people in front of him, for instance. 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:55.879 But what it means unceasingly is he prays regularly. 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:59.540 He prays consistently for these people. 00:08:59.539 --> 00:09:03.120 And it's an amazing statement to say, I pray unceasingly for someone. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:09.039 But it's more amazing, and I've said this already, it's more amazing when you think he's 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:14.959 never even met these Christians and he's praying unceasingly for them. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:22.599 It seems that someone who heard Paul preach in Ephesus took the gospel message to Colossae, 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:25.199 preached it there, and a church started. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:30.420 And now, years later, Paul, having never been to that city, having never met these people, 00:09:30.800 --> 00:09:35.720 gets a report from that same friend who was converted under Paul and took the gospel to 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:36.280 Colossae. 00:09:36.440 --> 00:09:38.280 He hears a report from that man. 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:42.160 And so now Paul writes a letter to help these Christians. 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:47.140 And in that letter, he says, I've never met you, but I want you to know, ever since I heard 00:09:47.140 --> 00:09:51.680 the report about you, I have prayed unceasingly, regularly, and consistently. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:55.279 Now, I hear that, and I think, that's encouraging. 00:09:56.019 --> 00:10:01.539 But then I think, man, I can't pray regularly and consistently for the Christians I do know. 00:10:01.939 --> 00:10:05.919 And here, Paul is doing it for those he's never even met. 00:10:06.419 --> 00:10:09.599 Maybe you feel that same kind of discouragement. 00:10:09.739 --> 00:10:14.379 And I want to encourage you, and I want to encourage myself as we think about when to 00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:16.360 pray for others with this. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:25.580 The same things that qualified Paul to pray and the same resources he had to pray unceasingly 00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:28.860 for others are yours and they're mine. 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:36.100 There wasn't something special about Paul being an apostle that helped him pray unceasingly. 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:38.080 There wasn't something special. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:43.740 He didn't have some special spiritual secret sauce that allowed him to do this that you 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:45.560 don't have and I don't have. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:50.680 So we can be discouraged on one hand when we hear that, but be encouraged on the other 00:10:50.680 --> 00:10:59.139 that the same way Paul comes before God into his presence is the same way you and I do. 00:10:59.800 --> 00:11:03.340 Paul is no more qualified to pray than you are. 00:11:03.340 --> 00:11:06.660 Because what qualifies you and Paul to pray? 00:11:07.560 --> 00:11:08.060 Grace. 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:11.540 Same thing that qualifies me to pray. 00:11:11.680 --> 00:11:12.840 It's not my works. 00:11:13.220 --> 00:11:14.379 It's not my righteousness. 00:11:14.920 --> 00:11:16.220 It's not my consistency. 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:18.980 It's not how much I mean it when I pray. 00:11:19.420 --> 00:11:24.240 The thing that qualifies me to pray is grace and grace alone. 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:32.280 Through Jesus Christ, we have access, the book of Ephesians says, with confidence and boldness 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:34.620 to come into God's presence. 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:38.159 That was true for Paul and it's true for you. 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:43.259 So be encouraged that what qualified Paul qualifies you. 00:11:44.059 --> 00:11:47.799 And you might think, man, I wish I had some other spiritual gift than the one I have. 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:52.980 Sometimes some of you might look and say, I wish I had a gift of ministry that put me 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:53.740 more up front. 00:11:53.839 --> 00:11:54.899 I'm always in the background. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.959 Or some of you are up front and I wish, man, I wish I could be in the background. 00:11:57.960 --> 00:12:00.500 Some of you have gifts of service. 00:12:00.680 --> 00:12:01.920 Some of you have gifts of teaching. 00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:05.420 Some of you have gifts that come with age and experience. 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:09.060 Some of you have the gifts that come with youth and vitality. 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:12.200 And you can look at someone else and say, man, I wish I had that. 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:17.800 I wish I had the wisdom or I wish I had the vitality or I wish I had something else to be 00:12:17.800 --> 00:12:19.400 of more service in the kingdom. 00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:24.720 But prayer is something for the kingdom that you and I can all do. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:28.540 Because we're all qualified the same way Paul was. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:34.600 And it takes, of course, more than just being qualified because no one has ever prayed unceasingly 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:35.320 by accident. 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:37.220 Have you ever noticed this? 00:12:37.800 --> 00:12:41.980 Someone doesn't develop a lifestyle of prayer by accident. 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:45.060 It takes some planning as well. 00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:48.639 So if we're going to pray for those people that we have in mind in our life, that God's 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:53.180 placed on our hearts, if we're going to pray for them regularly and consistently, we have 00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:55.799 to have some kind of plan to do it. 00:12:56.219 --> 00:12:59.659 And now that could be as simple as setting a reminder on your phone. 00:13:00.199 --> 00:13:06.639 We're all carrying around these phones nowadays, of course, and they can be trouble for us or 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:08.399 they can be a great blessing for us. 00:13:08.479 --> 00:13:12.699 And one way they can really help is something as simple as, I'm going to set a reminder to 00:13:12.699 --> 00:13:12.959 pray. 00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:16.779 Or if you don't want to go to all the trouble of setting the reminder yourself, you can 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:17.719 download a prayer app. 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:18.879 Did you know they have such things? 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:23.360 You can download an app on your phone that will remind you to pray for certain people 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:28.500 or groups or your church, your neighbors at a certain time every day, every week, whatever 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:28.899 it is. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:30.759 That could be your plan to pray regularly. 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.500 That would be great. 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:37.039 It could be a regular prayer meeting you go to with your whole church or just a small group. 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:42.759 It could be a card taped to your mirror in your bathroom so that you don't forget to pray 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:48.759 for your family members, your friends, your kids that God has placed on your heart. 00:13:49.439 --> 00:13:50.559 I'm trying a new system. 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:54.899 For years, I used something on my phone, basically like prayer cards on my phone that I would flip 00:13:54.899 --> 00:14:00.039 through, you know, ways to pray for my wife or for my kids or for my church or for my family 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:00.879 or for my neighbors. 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:04.960 I've gone back to something old school that I keep in my pocket at all times. 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:07.179 I had to dig it out of a museum. 00:14:07.319 --> 00:14:07.980 It's called paper. 00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:14.460 I went way back in time and it's a notebook and it's got a pencil in it. 00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:18.899 And when I think of something I want to be praying for, I can write it down right there. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:23.759 And I don't have to worry about updates and operating systems and all those kinds of things 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.800 because it's there. 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:27.899 And so I've got a page in my notebook for my wife. 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:32.480 I've got a page in my notebook for my kids, for my church, for those that I work with, 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:37.860 for other churches here in town, for all these things that I want to be praying regularly 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:40.639 for because it's not going to happen by accident. 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:44.600 And you might have tried a system for a while and it worked for a week and then it didn't 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:49.539 work and then you think, I'm not going to bother anymore because it didn't keep working. 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:54.360 And I want to say, try it again because at least you prayed for a week. 00:14:55.060 --> 00:14:56.580 At least you prayed for two weeks. 00:14:56.779 --> 00:15:02.399 Maybe the system you start isn't going to take you all the way until God takes you home, 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:04.620 but at least it gets you praying for a while. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:09.840 And then you try something else because you're qualified to pray by grace like Paul was, 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:12.299 but it's going to take some planning as well. 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:18.019 And it's also going to take an awareness of God and an awareness of people. 00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:23.139 To pray regularly, we need to be aware of what God's doing around us 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:26.539 and we need to be aware of the people around us both. 00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:32.899 Too often I get going on my to-do list, I keep my head down and I don't look up. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:36.799 I keep my head down thinking about me, myself, and I. 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:43.219 My problems, my fears, my anxieties, and I forget to look around at my friends, 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:47.659 my fellow church members, my family members and say, what's going on with them? 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:50.599 What obstacles are they facing? 00:15:51.079 --> 00:15:52.459 What pressure are they under? 00:15:52.959 --> 00:15:55.000 What trial are they going through? 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:58.559 What stress and anxiety is there in their life? 00:15:58.700 --> 00:16:03.740 I forget to be aware of the people around me and I forget to be aware of God and think, 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:07.360 God, what are you doing in their lives through that? 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:12.480 God, what are you doing in the lives of my neighbors on my street that don't know you? 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:16.840 What are they facing that might be an open door for you to work? 00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:21.559 We have to be aware of God and aware of people around us. 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:24.860 We have to see them as God sees them. 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:30.960 We have to see our fellow Christians, your fellow church members here at this church and your small group. 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:33.539 You have to see them as God sees them. 00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:35.419 And that's where Paul starts. 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:41.000 He says earlier in this book, just a few verses ahead of what we read or behind what we read. 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:45.219 He said, ever since I heard, I haven't stopped to thank God for you. 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:49.360 Because he sees them as God sees them. 00:16:49.979 --> 00:16:51.979 He sees them as people God is loving. 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:54.659 God is at work in. 00:16:55.320 --> 00:17:00.440 And so we have to see people like God sees them and ask, God, what are you doing? 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:03.879 And then begin to pray about those things. 00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:05.779 Those can be triggers for prayer. 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:10.619 When you hear about a great success or blessing in a friend's life, are you thinking, thank you, God. 00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:13.680 I pray that you would use that in their lives. 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:19.660 When you hear about their struggles, are you thinking, ah, God, that has been a long-term struggle. 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:21.359 Or it's suddenly just come out of nowhere. 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:25.440 What are you going to do in this dear friend or family member's life? 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.940 So when do we pray? 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:29.000 Regularly and consistently. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:31.340 Because God's qualified us. 00:17:31.820 --> 00:17:35.680 We just have to plan to do it and be aware of God and people. 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:40.559 But secondly, and this will get us more into the heart of these verses that we read. 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:43.000 Secondly, let's ask, what do we pray? 00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:45.940 Okay, now I know I should pray regularly and consistently. 00:17:46.380 --> 00:17:48.680 What are the kinds of things I should be praying? 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:51.160 And Paul answers that for us here. 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:54.120 I want you to think, though, just a little bit more carefully before we answer it 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:57.399 about these people that you're already thinking of that we've talked about. 00:17:57.479 --> 00:18:04.039 These friends, family members, kids, spouses, parents, church members who are struggling 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:12.899 with, like we said, finances, job, sin, addictions, marriage troubles, whatever it might be. 00:18:13.139 --> 00:18:14.519 What do you pray for them? 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:20.479 If you have a child, whether they're 3 or 30, and they hit some kind of obstacle, 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:25.120 it could be academic, it could be physical with their health, it could be social, 00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:29.400 if they hit some kind of obstacle in their life, are you like me? 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:33.380 And the first and too often only thing you pray is, God, get them out of pain. 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:42.079 Get them back to a life of convenience and ease and success, and just get them out of this 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:42.579 hard thing. 00:18:43.360 --> 00:18:44.740 That's a great thing to pray. 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:46.759 I don't want to shame any of us for praying that. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:52.839 But Paul's going to show us to lift our eyes up a little bit and pray even bigger than that. 00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:56.059 If it's a friend who's going through a marriage crisis. 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:59.539 So often, yes, we pray, God, strengthen the marriage. 00:18:59.620 --> 00:19:01.539 But what else can we pray? 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:04.779 If you have a friend, like we've said, who's destroying their life through addiction or 00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:07.859 sinful choices, how do you pray for them? 00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:12.799 This few verses that we read are only 125 words in this translation. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:16.819 But if you're like me, the first time you read it, and maybe this is the first time you've 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:22.299 read it ever, maybe in a long time this morning, it takes a while to read through these words 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.279 because they're so dense. 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:26.339 Paul packs so much into this paragraph. 00:19:26.659 --> 00:19:30.539 When I first preached this sermon a few months ago, I had to read through this paragraph more 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:34.680 often than maybe I typically read through a text I'm going to preach on because it was 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:37.799 just like I said, so dense and so packed. 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:40.480 And the more I studied it, the more I spent time with it. 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:46.740 The way I say we answer this question about what to pray for others is with this summary 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:50.640 statement that I think everything in these verses hangs on. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:58.200 And the summary statement is this, to pray for others to have trust that changes their walk. 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:04.880 Pray for others to have trust that changes their walk. 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:08.819 Now, that's what we're going to spend the rest of our time unfolding, unpacking together 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.680 this morning. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:14.660 Let's go back and start at verse 9 where Paul prays that these folks he's never met may 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:21.140 be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:24.100 Now, there's a lot of words in there, every word in there. 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:29.820 You know the dictionary definition of knowledge, wisdom, understanding. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.960 But that's not a way we normally talk. 00:20:32.580 --> 00:20:36.680 We don't normally talk, God, fill me with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:37.340 and understanding. 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:38.919 So what's he saying? 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.059 Well, let's start with knowledge. 00:20:40.199 --> 00:20:42.679 The Greek word here for knowledge isn't just facts. 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:47.639 It's not just, I know 2 plus 2 equals 4 and I can pass a math test. 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:53.000 It's not just, I know King David came after King Saul and I can pass a Bible test. 00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:55.099 It's not that kind of knowledge. 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:59.859 The word Paul uses says thoroughly, inside and out. 00:21:00.419 --> 00:21:01.719 I know it completely. 00:21:02.639 --> 00:21:07.199 That we're filled with knowledge, something you know thoroughly and completely. 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:09.399 And not just know it, but you apply it. 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:14.039 That's where this Greek word is leading us to understand what Paul is saying. 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:17.219 I don't just know something thoroughly, I live it. 00:21:17.719 --> 00:21:18.859 It changes me. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:21.000 That's another way you and I say trust. 00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:24.639 We know something, but we don't act on it until we trust it. 00:21:25.219 --> 00:21:26.679 So that's why I say the word trust. 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:29.740 To pray for others to have trust. 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:33.219 And that they may be filled with this kind of knowledge of what? 00:21:33.479 --> 00:21:34.599 God's will. 00:21:35.399 --> 00:21:38.659 Now you and I, when we usually pray, God, show me your will. 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:40.039 What kind of prayers are we praying? 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:43.139 God, show me which decision to make. 00:21:43.699 --> 00:21:43.839 Right? 00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:45.819 Show me your will, God. 00:21:45.939 --> 00:21:50.939 Show me, do I take this job in a faraway state or a job here close to home? 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:52.139 Do I marry this person? 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.319 Do I go to that college? 00:21:53.419 --> 00:21:54.539 Do I take a gap year? 00:21:55.399 --> 00:21:57.199 God, show me what to do, your will. 00:21:57.299 --> 00:22:00.959 And that's a great thing to pray, but I don't think that's what Paul is saying here. 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:06.319 When he says God's will here, and you take that word will and how he uses it in Colossians, 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:11.359 and if we had time, we could compare it with how he uses that word in Ephesians and other letters. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:25.279 When Paul says God's will, what he means is God's desire and his plan and his execution of that plan to redeem all things. 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:27.159 Nothing less than that. 00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:31.559 God's will, therefore, is a huge concept. 00:22:32.159 --> 00:22:36.119 You and I live in a fallen world where everything is broken. 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:42.239 Everything is touched and destroyed to some level by sin. 00:22:42.719 --> 00:22:45.879 God made the whole thing beautiful, perfect. 00:22:46.479 --> 00:22:52.939 He made it for us to have a perfect relationship with him and each other in a world that worked for us, 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:55.379 where there would be no pain and suffering. 00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:57.679 But our sin came and broke. 00:22:57.799 --> 00:23:04.119 As the old Christmas carol says, the curse, as far as the curse is found, joy to the world, that's everywhere. 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:04.679 Everywhere. 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:06.799 The curse goes everywhere. 00:23:06.979 --> 00:23:07.939 And what is God's will? 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.919 To fix it all. 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:12.599 Not just our relationship with him. 00:23:12.959 --> 00:23:15.819 Not just to get our souls saved and into heaven. 00:23:16.239 --> 00:23:18.539 But to fix everything. 00:23:19.099 --> 00:23:20.339 Our relationship with him. 00:23:20.419 --> 00:23:21.719 Our relationship with other people. 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:23.319 Our relationship with creation. 00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:26.419 He's going to come and redeem everything. 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:28.539 Another way is to say he's going to bring his kingdom. 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.919 God's will is his kingdom. 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:35.960 And it's going to work itself out in all parts of our lives. 00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:37.920 In all parts of creation. 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:46.560 So it's God's desire, plan, and the execution of that plan, which is certain to redeem all things. 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:56.300 So God, give us a thorough and complete knowledge that we trust of your desire to save and restore and redeem me personally and cosmically. 00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:57.660 The whole thing. 00:23:57.660 --> 00:24:00.860 I told you this was a dense and packed passage. 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.160 Just these few words already. 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:06.160 We see so much about the whole scope of God's redemption. 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:10.779 Not only in our own lives personally, but cosmically to all things. 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:15.180 And I love that he prays for them to have a knowledge of God's will. 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.440 But not just have it. 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.320 What does he say? 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:19.200 Be filled with it. 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:22.420 Because doesn't every Christian have that kind of knowledge to some degree? 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.380 Or they wouldn't be a Christian. 00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:26.900 So he says, I want you to be filled with it. 00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:31.720 It's like when they said to Jesus, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:34.340 That's like my theme prayer for my life. 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:37.580 Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:43.260 The help my unbelief part, that's the gap where I need to be filled with these things. 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:46.759 That unbelief part in your life, Lord, help me with my unbelief. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:57.000 That's the gap where you need to be filled with a certain thorough knowledge that you act on of God's saving and redeeming of all things. 00:24:57.240 --> 00:25:01.579 At all parts of creation. 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:05.680 He prays that they'll be filled with the knowledge of his will. 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:12.720 Well, then, if you go further with me in verse 9, how he says, in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:15.080 Now, spiritual means Holy Spirit. 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.660 So that means God gives it. 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:19.039 We don't go out and get it on our own. 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:26.600 Wisdom and understanding, those are the same two words that King Solomon prayed to God in the Old Testament when he prayed for wisdom. 00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:29.360 God gave me wisdom and understanding. 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:35.500 And wisdom is, like we normally think of it, I know which decision to make. 00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:36.559 I'm wise. 00:25:36.979 --> 00:25:38.079 I know how to act. 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:40.439 But it's more than that in the Scripture. 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:45.399 Wisdom in the Scripture is skill, someone once said, in godly living. 00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:47.779 Skill in godly living. 00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:53.579 In other words, you know how to live as a follower of Jesus in this world. 00:25:54.199 --> 00:25:55.559 Skill in godly living. 00:25:55.559 --> 00:26:00.839 So, God, fill me with a knowledge of your will, with all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 00:26:01.419 --> 00:26:12.119 What he's praying for is that these people would have a certainty and trust in God's good news of grace that works out in their lives. 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:18.480 That the trust they have in God's grace doesn't just end at their point of conversion, 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:27.319 but then it extends into their marriage troubles, into their financial stresses, into their health problems, 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:34.620 and that they see how to bring the good news of God's grace into those problems and apply it. 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:36.140 So, let me give you an example. 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:43.299 Let's say that your child is struggling with being rejected by a friend, as every child will at some point, or a group of friends. 00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:45.480 They're struggling with feeling on the outside. 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:48.819 What's the parent's heart's first thing they want to pray for? 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:53.259 God, change those other kids so they love my kid and they stop feeling bad. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:58.259 Paul here is praying more than that. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:00.740 That's not necessarily a bad thing to pray, but he's praying more. 00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:08.200 He's praying, God, I pray that you would give my child a certainty of the knowledge of what you're doing, 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:14.259 of your salvation, of your grace, and of your love, so that as they're rejected by others, 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:23.400 they can trust that they are accepted by you, and that acceptance will become more to them than it ever could have meant if they weren't rejected. 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.819 You see how Paul is praying here? 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:34.100 He's praying that that grace that they received at conversion would be worked out in the specific problems that they have. 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:40.259 If you have a friend who's suffering with a health problem, maybe even a terminal health problem, and many of us, I'm sure, do. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.779 I do right now. 00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:44.939 Certainly, we pray for their health, for their recovery. 00:27:45.679 --> 00:27:48.099 But according to this, we can pray for even more. 00:27:48.659 --> 00:27:52.159 God, give them a certainty that you're going to restore all things, 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:56.640 and that even when this earthly life ends, it's not the end of the story, 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:59.180 because God is going to bring a new heavens and a new earth, 00:27:59.340 --> 00:28:03.360 and restore and renew everything, cosmically speaking. 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:08.880 These are great words to pray for your kids, for your friends who are struggling with health problems. 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:12.500 It's a great thing to pray for the children and youth of this church. 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:16.380 Whenever you have a baptism here, the part at the end says, 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:20.660 do you promise to assist this family in raising this child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? 00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:24.200 And probably all of you raise your hands, just like I do. 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:28.140 And you think, two weeks later, I don't even know that child's name anymore. 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:32.779 Unless you personally have a friendship with the family, 00:28:33.040 --> 00:28:36.180 how can you keep that promise then, with these words, 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:39.580 to pray for the children and youth of this church? 00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:42.060 And what great things to pray for yourself. 00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:44.120 What are you facing? 00:28:45.820 --> 00:28:46.880 What's your struggle? 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:51.180 Where's the point of temptation that you keep giving into? 00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:54.820 You need to pray these words for yourself, 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:58.440 or even more, ask someone to pray them for you. 00:28:59.840 --> 00:29:02.520 When was the last time you asked someone to pray for you 00:29:02.520 --> 00:29:06.240 in a way that was more than just about the circumstances in your life, 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.940 which are great things to ask for prayer for? 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.060 I'm not shaming that at all. 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:11.160 More than just, I'm taking a trip. 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:12.360 Pray that I'll be safe. 00:29:13.060 --> 00:29:14.760 More than just, I'm trying to make a decision. 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:15.780 Pray that I have wisdom. 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:21.220 Ask someone to pray for you at the point where you're struggling maybe in temptation, 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.980 struggling with doubt, 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:26.660 that you would be filled with the knowledge of God's will, 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:30.200 of grace for you personally and cosmically. 00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:32.980 And then I love when you go further with me into verse 10. 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:37.500 This all gets worked out with the word that Paul uses there, walk. 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:40.899 That it gets worked out in your walk, 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:43.160 to have trust that changes your walk. 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:45.400 Now in the Bible, walk is not going out for a stroll. 00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:50.440 Walk is your whole pattern and course trajectory of your life, 00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:52.920 your behavior over the long term, 00:29:53.320 --> 00:29:55.220 your disposition over the long term, 00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:57.800 your choices over the long term, 00:29:57.900 --> 00:30:00.740 your loves over the long term, 00:30:00.860 --> 00:30:02.620 your desires over the long term, 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:06.320 your walk the whole of your life over time. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:09.319 And Paul prays for some very specific ways 00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:11.480 that this trust for the Colossians 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:13.939 would be worked out in their walk. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:15.559 And the first way that he prays in verse 10 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:17.519 is that it would be a worthy walk. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.619 Worthy walk. 00:30:19.679 --> 00:30:20.839 That word is all over the Bible. 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:22.480 And for years, I have to confess to you, 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:24.980 I thought it just meant your behavior. 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:31.860 That your externals would be lined up with God's commandments. 00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:33.039 Now that's a great thing. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:37.039 But you know who had that in the Bible more than others perhaps? 00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:38.440 The Pharisees. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:41.400 And they don't get a lot of good pub in the Bible. 00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:42.819 They're not the heroes. 00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:49.380 Because their insides weren't lining up with a worthy walk. 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:53.920 They were doing all of those good things for all the wrong reasons. 00:30:54.840 --> 00:30:57.200 To have the right reasons to do the right thing 00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:59.520 takes a humility before God 00:30:59.520 --> 00:31:01.420 and an acceptance of His grace 00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:03.380 and a joy in being free, 00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:07.300 as free and as righteous as Jesus. 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:09.120 And so that's a worthy walk. 00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:11.020 To do the right thing for the right reason, 00:31:11.060 --> 00:31:12.700 out of love for God. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:16.060 He also prays that they would have a fruitful walk. 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:18.120 That they would bear fruit. 00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:20.500 I think about the fruit of the Spirit 00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:25.359 that people would increase in love and joy and peace and patience, etc. 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:27.599 Isn't that a great thing to pray for a friend, 00:31:27.699 --> 00:31:30.019 like we've said, who's struggling with a particular sin? 00:31:30.879 --> 00:31:33.979 God, give them a knowledge of Your grace and will 00:31:33.979 --> 00:31:37.139 in all wisdom in this part of their life 00:31:37.139 --> 00:31:40.519 that gives them a worthy and a fruitful walk. 00:31:41.479 --> 00:31:43.619 Those are powerful things to pray 00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:45.099 for someone who's struggling 00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:47.919 with that kind of sin temptation. 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:49.980 Or to ask someone to pray that for yourself, 00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:51.420 like we said. 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.759 He also prays that their walk 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:54.720 would not only be worthy and fruitful, 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:57.080 but also powerful, 00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.500 in verse 11. 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:01.920 And that they would be strengthened with all power, 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.539 he says, 00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:05.300 according to God's glorious might. 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:08.420 We need to underline right here, 00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.820 that's a lot of power. 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:16.819 power according to God's glorious might. 00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:17.659 God's might. 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.700 How strong is God? 00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:22.740 power as strong as anything could possibly be. 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:24.240 according to His might. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.700 According to His might. 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:26.380 According to His glorious might. 00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:26.700 In other words, 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:28.519 He's not just praying you can bench the bar 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:30.779 and get the bar off your chest. 00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:33.079 He's praying you can power lift 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:35.000 beyond a world record. 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:39.620 Power according to God's glorious might. 00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:41.439 To pray that for a friend 00:32:41.439 --> 00:32:42.939 who is struggling with depression. 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:46.699 Struggling with the dark clouds 00:32:46.699 --> 00:32:47.939 never going away. 00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:50.059 God, that they would know Your power 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:53.259 according to Your glorious might. 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:55.079 So praying for a walk 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:57.019 that's worthy, fruitful, powerful. 00:32:57.739 --> 00:32:59.459 And he says next in verse 11, 00:32:59.679 --> 00:33:00.219 enduring. 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:02.539 In all endurance, 00:33:02.719 --> 00:33:03.439 in patience, 00:33:03.959 --> 00:33:05.299 with joy. 00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:08.079 So to pray for our friends, 00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.000 our church members, 00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:10.339 our spouses, 00:33:10.879 --> 00:33:12.119 to have endurance. 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:13.720 That is that they would keep going 00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:15.359 in impossible situations. 00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:17.079 When I look at it 00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:18.180 our congregation every week, 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.460 I see people 00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:20.819 and my heart breaks for them 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:22.919 because they're in impossible situations 00:33:22.919 --> 00:33:23.659 it seems like. 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:25.740 And I'm sure if I knew your stories better, 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:27.879 many here have those kinds of stories 00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:29.079 where you're in some situation 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:30.019 that just feels like 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.680 I don't see the good of it. 00:33:32.099 --> 00:33:33.399 I don't see a way out of this. 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:35.560 This isn't going to go away. 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.880 And Paul prays 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:37.780 that they will endure 00:33:37.780 --> 00:33:39.160 with patience. 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:40.740 And patience is 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:42.400 more than just impossible situations. 00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:44.800 Patience is those impossible people 00:33:44.800 --> 00:33:46.160 in your life. 00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:47.259 Anybody have those? 00:33:48.860 --> 00:33:50.380 Anybody that person 00:33:50.380 --> 00:33:51.220 for someone else? 00:33:52.060 --> 00:33:53.540 You are that impossible person 00:33:53.540 --> 00:33:54.840 for somebody else. 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:56.320 Paul prays 00:33:56.320 --> 00:33:57.660 that they will have endurance 00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:59.460 in impossible situations 00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.380 and patience 00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:02.460 with impossible people. 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:04.120 and then he prays 00:34:04.120 --> 00:34:05.180 for them to have that 00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:06.240 with joy. 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.500 The old movie Gladiator, 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.099 do you remember that? 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:11.519 When he goes into the Colosseum 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.199 and he fights. 00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:13.780 It's a great example 00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:14.659 of a Stoic. 00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:16.139 A philosophy that says 00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:17.659 I can endure all things. 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:18.920 Paul says, 00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:19.900 I'll take you Stoics 00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:20.519 for endurance 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:22.360 and I'll raise you joy. 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.320 Because the Stoics 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:25.139 couldn't have joy. 00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:26.599 They didn't have access to that. 00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:27.720 Paul says, 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.440 let's endure 00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:30.079 but let's endure with joy. 00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:32.239 Because even in that hard thing, 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:33.599 God's at work. 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.619 Someone came up to me recently 00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:36.039 after I, 00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:36.539 like I mentioned, 00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:37.440 preached this the first time 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.000 at my church 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:39.719 and she's gone through 00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:41.199 an impossible situation 00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:42.639 with impossible people 00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.299 in her life 00:34:43.299 --> 00:34:44.239 and I know her story. 00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:45.619 And she said to me, 00:34:46.319 --> 00:34:46.960 and it was beautiful 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:47.980 because it was this sermon, 00:34:48.219 --> 00:34:49.239 she'd already lived it 00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:50.219 before I preached it. 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:51.039 She said, 00:34:51.239 --> 00:34:52.559 as hard as all those things were, 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:53.539 I would never wish them 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.059 on myself 00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.799 or anybody else 00:34:54.799 --> 00:34:56.219 but I wouldn't trade them now 00:34:56.219 --> 00:34:57.980 for what God did. 00:34:57.980 --> 00:35:00.719 And she said it with a smile 00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:02.159 that doesn't minimize 00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:03.780 or cancel the pain 00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:06.119 but it says it was worth it 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:07.559 because God was doing 00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.460 something beautiful 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:09.719 in her life. 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:12.039 That's how she found the joy. 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:14.300 And then he says in verse 12, 00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:15.079 he prays for them 00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:15.780 to be thankful 00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:17.280 and he spends more time on this 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.360 than any part of the prayer. 00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:19.920 And this is where 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:21.300 it will begin to wrap up. 00:35:21.780 --> 00:35:23.719 He prays that they will be thankful 00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:25.199 in verse 12. 00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:26.360 When I studied this 00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:27.320 the first time I thought, 00:35:27.640 --> 00:35:28.180 went back and looked 00:35:28.180 --> 00:35:28.860 at my prayer cards, 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.120 I said, 00:35:29.180 --> 00:35:29.960 I don't have one time 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.840 when I'm praying for people 00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:31.440 to be thankful. 00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.099 Have you ever prayed 00:35:33.099 --> 00:35:34.240 for someone to be thankful? 00:35:36.260 --> 00:35:37.059 And when I say it, 00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:37.380 I think, 00:35:37.620 --> 00:35:38.420 well, of course we should. 00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:39.460 How did I miss that? 00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.800 And maybe you've missed it too. 00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:41.440 Maybe you prayed 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:42.200 all the time for people, 00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:43.079 then good on you. 00:35:43.680 --> 00:35:44.480 I missed it. 00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:45.519 I never thought to pray, 00:35:45.660 --> 00:35:47.300 God make me thankful. 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:49.180 God make someone else 00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:50.680 that I love thankful. 00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:51.519 What happens 00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:52.140 when you're thankful? 00:35:52.740 --> 00:35:53.599 Your eyes come up 00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:54.239 off yourself, 00:35:55.139 --> 00:35:56.380 off your problems, 00:35:56.920 --> 00:35:58.259 and they see 00:35:58.259 --> 00:35:58.960 the whole picture 00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:01.159 of what God is doing 00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:02.199 in the world. 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.279 When you're thankful, 00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:04.599 it's a spiritual protection 00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:06.099 because so often 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:06.619 we're tempted 00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:08.239 through our discontentment. 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:09.659 But you know what 00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:10.460 can't live together? 00:36:11.299 --> 00:36:12.819 Gratefulness and discontentment. 00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:14.980 And so to be delivered 00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:15.960 from discontentment 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:16.739 is to be delivered 00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:17.920 from possible temptation. 00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:19.900 It's a spiritual insulator 00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:20.739 and protector 00:36:20.739 --> 00:36:21.940 to be thankful. 00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:23.240 But are you like me? 00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:24.019 And sometimes you want 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:24.500 to be thankful. 00:36:24.760 --> 00:36:26.240 You try to get that fire going, 00:36:26.720 --> 00:36:28.139 but it just doesn't seem 00:36:28.139 --> 00:36:29.119 to spark. 00:36:30.059 --> 00:36:30.740 Well, Paul here 00:36:30.740 --> 00:36:31.679 has some logs 00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:33.039 to throw on that fire 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:34.659 in verses 12 through 14. 00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:36.519 To throw on that fire 00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:37.920 to increase our gratitude. 00:36:38.240 --> 00:36:39.000 First, he says, 00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:39.960 to be thankful 00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:41.300 that we have been qualified 00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:43.220 to share in the inheritance. 00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:45.440 I love that word qualified. 00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:46.519 It doesn't show up often 00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:47.240 in the New Testament, 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:49.039 but it goes against a way 00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:50.200 you and I often move 00:36:50.200 --> 00:36:50.860 through life 00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:52.880 feeling not qualified, 00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:54.460 but disqualified. 00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:56.480 If there was a word 00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:57.640 to hang over your life, 00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:59.280 would it be disqualified? 00:37:00.140 --> 00:37:01.320 God, I feel disqualified 00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:02.380 to be your follower. 00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:03.900 I feel disqualified 00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:05.360 to be a good spouse, 00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:06.460 to be a good friend. 00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:07.440 I feel disqualified 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:08.680 from being a good parent. 00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:10.120 I just feel, 00:37:10.260 --> 00:37:11.840 in general, disqualified. 00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:14.260 But God says, 00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:15.380 you're qualified. 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:19.140 I have made you qualified 00:37:19.140 --> 00:37:19.820 to what? 00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:21.320 Share in the inheritance. 00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:22.900 And Paul here 00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:24.280 picks up an Old Testament term 00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:25.539 and brings it forward. 00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:26.539 And this is why we read 00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:27.400 from the book of Exodus 00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:28.579 chapter 6 this morning 00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:29.740 because God there says, 00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:30.260 you're going to get 00:37:30.260 --> 00:37:31.059 an inheritance 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:32.640 in the land. 00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:35.240 For the Christian, 00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:36.760 it's not just the promised land. 00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:38.039 It's the whole thing. 00:37:38.860 --> 00:37:39.920 We're not just going to get 00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:41.119 one country. 00:37:41.640 --> 00:37:42.599 God's going to give us 00:37:42.599 --> 00:37:43.299 the new heavens 00:37:43.299 --> 00:37:44.539 and new earth. 00:37:45.299 --> 00:37:46.360 We've been qualified 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:48.099 to share in that inheritance. 00:37:48.679 --> 00:37:49.460 And when we're thankful 00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:50.000 for that, 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:50.920 doesn't that change 00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:52.219 whatever hard thing it is 00:37:52.219 --> 00:37:53.039 that we're going through? 00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:54.400 Because it's temporary. 00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:56.139 It's not forever. 00:37:56.779 --> 00:37:57.480 And that increases 00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:58.259 our thanksgiving. 00:37:58.420 --> 00:37:59.440 The second log he gives us 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.380 to throw on the fire 00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:03.519 is that he has delivered us 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:04.819 from the domain of darkness 00:38:04.819 --> 00:38:05.839 and transferred us 00:38:05.839 --> 00:38:06.420 to the kingdom 00:38:06.420 --> 00:38:07.900 of the Son of God 00:38:07.900 --> 00:38:08.900 he loves. 00:38:09.579 --> 00:38:10.519 That's a word meaning 00:38:10.519 --> 00:38:11.799 he's taken us 00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:12.640 out of a country. 00:38:12.820 --> 00:38:13.539 A king has come in 00:38:13.539 --> 00:38:13.980 and conquered 00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:14.860 and taken those people 00:38:14.860 --> 00:38:16.380 out to a better country. 00:38:16.820 --> 00:38:17.380 That's what God 00:38:17.380 --> 00:38:18.200 has done for us. 00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:19.620 Meditate on that. 00:38:19.760 --> 00:38:20.500 Pray about that. 00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:21.920 Sit down and think on it. 00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:23.000 Find a song 00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:24.160 and worship God for it 00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:25.880 and increase your thankfulness. 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:26.720 Pray that others 00:38:26.720 --> 00:38:28.440 are thankful for that. 00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:29.220 And the third log 00:38:29.220 --> 00:38:30.240 is in verse 14. 00:38:31.060 --> 00:38:31.580 To be thankful 00:38:31.580 --> 00:38:32.320 for the Son 00:38:32.320 --> 00:38:33.560 in whom we have redemption, 00:38:34.380 --> 00:38:36.320 the forgiveness of sins. 00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:37.660 That's true 00:38:37.660 --> 00:38:38.760 for your Christian friend 00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:40.560 and it's true for you. 00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:42.099 And redemption in the Bible 00:38:42.099 --> 00:38:43.420 is a beautiful concept 00:38:43.420 --> 00:38:45.059 not where the guilty 00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:46.159 pays the innocent 00:38:46.159 --> 00:38:47.779 but the innocent 00:38:47.779 --> 00:38:48.860 pays for the guilty. 00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:50.599 And isn't that 00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.579 our salvation? 00:38:52.599 --> 00:38:53.219 The innocent 00:38:53.219 --> 00:38:54.820 pays for the guilty. 00:38:55.799 --> 00:38:56.320 A redemption, 00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:56.960 a ransom 00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:57.779 is another word 00:38:57.779 --> 00:38:59.860 that you could translate here. 00:39:00.279 --> 00:39:01.019 When you watch a movie 00:39:01.019 --> 00:39:02.199 about a ransom payment, 00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:03.179 how does it work? 00:39:03.940 --> 00:39:05.079 You have to go and pay 00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:05.659 for the innocent 00:39:05.659 --> 00:39:06.500 to be set free. 00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:08.380 You have to pay 00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:08.820 the guilty 00:39:08.820 --> 00:39:09.519 for the innocent. 00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:11.239 But in the Bible, 00:39:11.480 --> 00:39:12.300 for your redemption, 00:39:13.820 --> 00:39:14.380 the innocent 00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:15.159 has paid 00:39:15.159 --> 00:39:16.019 for the guilty. 00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:18.239 So much so 00:39:18.239 --> 00:39:18.980 that we have been 00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.599 qualified 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:20.840 to share 00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:21.760 in the inheritance 00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:22.239 and we have 00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:22.940 the forgiveness 00:39:22.940 --> 00:39:24.179 of sins 00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:25.139 he ends the paragraph 00:39:25.139 --> 00:39:25.619 with. 00:39:26.260 --> 00:39:26.679 Many of you 00:39:26.679 --> 00:39:27.139 probably listen 00:39:27.139 --> 00:39:27.820 to Dave Ramsey 00:39:27.820 --> 00:39:28.320 on the radio, 00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:29.360 the financial guru. 00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:31.280 And every so often 00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:31.760 he has somebody 00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:32.300 call in 00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:32.860 who has gone 00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:33.659 through his plan 00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:34.900 and they are now 00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.400 debt free. 00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:36.480 And that's what Dave 00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:36.980 is all about, 00:39:37.039 --> 00:39:37.960 getting you debt free. 00:39:38.220 --> 00:39:38.380 Right? 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:40.440 And they tell their story 00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:41.420 how hard it was 00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:42.280 to be under the weight 00:39:42.280 --> 00:39:43.019 of all that debt 00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:43.760 and all the things 00:39:43.760 --> 00:39:44.440 they went through 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.260 and all the plans 00:39:45.260 --> 00:39:46.320 and all the sacrifices 00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:46.920 they made 00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:48.220 to now be debt free. 00:39:48.260 --> 00:39:49.460 And how does it always end? 00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:52.300 With the debt free scream. 00:39:53.220 --> 00:39:54.039 And these people 00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:55.000 are so excited 00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:56.340 that they will scream 00:39:56.340 --> 00:39:57.099 on the radio 00:39:57.099 --> 00:39:57.860 in front of millions 00:39:57.860 --> 00:39:58.340 of people 00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:59.780 about being debt free. 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:02.000 But their debt 00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:02.980 is nothing 00:40:02.980 --> 00:40:04.099 compared to the debt 00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:05.299 that's been paid 00:40:05.299 --> 00:40:05.719 for you 00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:07.159 and it's been paid 00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:07.559 for me. 00:40:08.279 --> 00:40:08.839 When you hear 00:40:08.839 --> 00:40:09.920 that debt free scream 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:10.400 remember 00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:12.199 I can scream too 00:40:12.199 --> 00:40:14.059 for a far greater debt 00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:14.719 has been paid 00:40:14.719 --> 00:40:15.400 where the innocent 00:40:15.400 --> 00:40:16.259 has paid 00:40:16.259 --> 00:40:17.799 for the guilty. 00:40:18.539 --> 00:40:19.339 Pray that 00:40:19.339 --> 00:40:21.179 for those people 00:40:21.179 --> 00:40:22.019 you're concerned about 00:40:22.019 --> 00:40:23.099 that God would give them 00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:23.839 that gratitude 00:40:23.839 --> 00:40:25.440 as they go through 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:26.360 whatever obstacle 00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:27.599 or trial in life 00:40:27.599 --> 00:40:28.900 that they will be grateful 00:40:28.900 --> 00:40:30.679 for God's grace 00:40:30.679 --> 00:40:32.039 in their lives. 00:40:32.039 --> 00:40:33.779 and any believer 00:40:33.779 --> 00:40:34.659 like we've seen 00:40:34.659 --> 00:40:35.880 can have this kind 00:40:35.880 --> 00:40:36.380 of impact 00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:37.300 across distance 00:40:37.300 --> 00:40:38.259 across barriers 00:40:38.259 --> 00:40:39.159 across ages 00:40:39.159 --> 00:40:39.759 generations 00:40:39.759 --> 00:40:41.360 it doesn't matter. 00:40:41.659 --> 00:40:42.239 The first thing 00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:43.360 Paul did was pray 00:40:43.360 --> 00:40:44.860 and it can be so 00:40:44.860 --> 00:40:46.480 for us as well. 00:40:46.820 --> 00:40:47.239 Let's pray. 00:40:48.599 --> 00:40:49.539 Father we thank you 00:40:49.539 --> 00:40:50.059 for the truth 00:40:50.059 --> 00:40:50.880 that we've seen here 00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:51.900 this morning 00:40:51.900 --> 00:40:52.980 and Lord I just confess 00:40:52.980 --> 00:40:53.840 how much I need it. 00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:54.519 I've spent time 00:40:54.519 --> 00:40:55.880 in this passage 00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:57.039 over the last few months 00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:58.159 and I still see 00:40:58.159 --> 00:40:59.079 so much more 00:40:59.079 --> 00:41:00.199 that I want to grow in. 00:41:00.199 --> 00:41:01.779 Father I pray 00:41:01.779 --> 00:41:02.659 that you would make 00:41:02.659 --> 00:41:03.559 us people who pray 00:41:03.559 --> 00:41:04.799 and I pray 00:41:04.799 --> 00:41:05.359 that you would make 00:41:05.359 --> 00:41:06.319 us people who pray 00:41:06.319 --> 00:41:07.059 like Paul 00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:07.799 and I pray 00:41:07.799 --> 00:41:08.559 that you would help us 00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:09.480 to see the fruit 00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:10.659 of our prayers 00:41:10.659 --> 00:41:11.539 and I pray 00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:12.419 that we would pray 00:41:12.419 --> 00:41:14.259 because we see 00:41:14.259 --> 00:41:14.739 the grace 00:41:14.739 --> 00:41:15.339 and forgiveness 00:41:15.339 --> 00:41:16.239 and compassion 00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:17.399 that we have 00:41:17.399 --> 00:41:17.899 from you 00:41:17.899 --> 00:41:18.980 in Jesus Christ. 00:41:19.659 --> 00:41:20.599 We pray all these things 00:41:20.599 --> 00:41:21.299 in Jesus name. 00:41:21.859 --> 00:41:22.079 Amen. 00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:22.219 Amen. 00:41:22.219 --> 00:41:22.259 Amen. 00:41:22.259 --> 00:41:22.279 Amen. 00:41:22.279 --> 00:41:22.299 Amen. 00:41:22.299 --> 00:41:22.319 Amen. 00:41:22.319 --> 00:41:24.299 Amen. 00:41:24.299 --> 00:41:24.319 Amen. 00:41:24.319 --> 00:41:26.319 Amen. 00:41:26.319 --> 00:41:26.359 Amen. 00:41:26.359 --> 00:41:26.379 Amen. 00:41:26.379 --> 00:41:28.319 Amen. 00:41:28.319 --> 00:41:28.379 Amen. 00:41:28.379 --> 00:41:30.179 Amen.